Definitions

lín (noun,adjective) neighbor; adjacent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "邻", originally represented by the traditional form "鄰", finds its etymological basis in the idea of adjacent human settlements, with the right-hand component "邑" signifying a town or community and the left-hand element "粦" acting as a phonetic marker. Over time, its meaning gradually broadened from referring to a defined unit of adjoining households within ancient social structures to encompassing any neighboring entity or individual, thereby generalizing the concept of closeness. Structurally, the simplified form substituted the phonetic component with "令", which provides a contemporary sound cue, while preserving the "阝" radical, derived from "邑", to sustain the character's inherent connection to place and proximity, illustrating an adaptation in written form that mirrors linguistic shifts without abandoning the original conceptual anchor.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是我的居。

Tā shì wǒ de línjū.

He is my neighbor.

我家居很友好。

Wǒ jiā línjū hěn yǒuhǎo.

My neighbor is very friendly.

中国有很多国。

Zhōngguó yǒu hěnduō lín guó.

China has many neighboring countries.

我的座同学在睡觉。

Wǒ de línzuò tóngxué zài shuìjiào.

My classmate sitting next to me is sleeping.

居帮助我找到了猫。

Línjū bāngzhù wǒ zhǎodàole māo.

The neighbor helped me find my cat.

我们和国关系很好。

Wǒmen hé línguó guānxì hěn hǎo.

We have good relations with the neighboring country.

家的小孩经常来玩。

Línjiā de xiǎohái jīngcháng lái wán.

The child from the neighboring family often comes to play.

的两家公司正在合作。

Xiānglín de liǎng jiā gōngsī zhèngzài hézuò.

The two adjacent companies are collaborating.